Chinese Community in Italy Mourns Death of Chinese Barista Murdered in Cold Blood

Earlier this month, a Chinese national working at a cafe in Italy was murdered in cold blood during her shift.

On August 8, 25-year-old barista Hui “Stefania” Zhou was attacked by a man believed to be Moroccan at Moulin Rouge in the suburbs of Reggio Emilia.

Zhou was behind the counter serving customers in the afternoon when a man entered the cafe and started beating her. After stabbing her multiple times, the man immediately fled the scene. Zhou died from her stab wounds.

Italian police issued an arrest warrant for a man, identified as 34-year-old Hicham Boukssid, hours after the incident. A photo of the suspect was made public immediately and information about him was sent to the border to speed up his arrest.

According to the local press, the suspect surrendered on August 18 after hiding in the woodland area of northeastern Reggio Emilia for 10 days. He reportedly went to the police station in bare feet, wearing blood-stained clothes that he presumably wore on the day of the murder.

He told police where he buried the murder weapon. While the authorities are still investigating the motive, initial analysis of the case point to possible femicide than a failed robbery or personal grudge.

Hundreds of Chinese community members from all over northern Italy joined Zhou’s family and friends to mourn the victim’s death during the funeral ceremony on August 19 at a Chinese evangelical Christian church in the outskirts of Reggio Emilia.